The five-star musical that shook 2019 is back! Ian Salmon has written a musical masterpiece with Girls Don’t Play Guitars. Rarely does an original true-life story capture the essence of an era so well, enabling a new generation of 20- and 30-year-olds to fully appreciate the struggles and complexities of rising to fame in such a competitive musical scene. This was a truly magnificent show, evoking a range of emotions and transporting us back to the 1960s. It tells the tale of Liverpool’s real-life all-girl beat band, The Liverbirds, who shook the world, further cementing Liverpool’s place in musical history.
From the outset, the audience couldn’t help but be impressed by Mark Walters’ set design, shaped like an electric guitar. It housed all the scenes—from concert venues like The Cavern Club and Hamburg’s Star Club, to a minibus, to a German recording studio. It looked almost too simplistic to work, but with clever direction (Bob Eaton), choreography, and full-stage utilisation—not to mention excellent acting and musical talent—it drew you in, making the narrative of the four female characters completely believable. The audience willed them to succeed in breaking into the male-dominated industry.
In 1963, the music world was exploding. Musical talent, attitude, and the sense that you could be anything you wanted to be saw Liverpool flooded with bands and singers all striving for the top. The phenomenal talent of the actors, their musical abilities, and their comedic timing made the play highly entertaining. The girls—Mary (Alice McKenna), Sylvia (Sarah Workman), Val (Molly Grace Cutler), and Pam (Lisa Wright)—were fiercely strong and utterly determined. Despite numerous setbacks, they were focused on their goal: being taken seriously on the world stage. This foot-stomping musical was packed with the great songs of the ’60s, including The Liverbirds’ smash hits Peanut Butter and Diddley Daddy. It was also fascinating to hear and see how they performed and collaborated with other notable artists such as Jimi Hendrix, The Kinks, Mick Jagger, and Chuck Berry.
The girls achieved their dreams and stood tall amongst the boys. Little did the world know that, in response to John Lennon’s arrogant comment (the inspiration for the play’s title), the girls’ perseverance, resilience, and determination would result in them releasing hit singles, albums, and going on world tours.
A major highlight of the show came when two surviving members of the band, Mary Dostal and Sylvia Wiggins, were brought onto the stage. They took their places on bass guitar and drums, respectively, performing their hit Peanut Butter with immense gusto. By this point, the audience was in raptures, as these elderly women demonstrated their timeless talent.
If you’re looking for a fun night out with excellent music, this is the show for you!
Tickets can be purchased directly from the box office:
https://liverpoolsroyalcourt.com
Or contact the box office at:
boxoffice@liverpoolsroyalcourt.com
Photo Credit: Atana Paskalev